Review:: Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

When BFFs Charlie, Taylor and Jamie go to SupaCon, they know it’s going to be a blast. What they don’t expect is for it to change their lives forever.

Charlie likes to stand out. SupaCon is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star, Jason Ryan. When Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie’s long-time crush on her isn’t as one-sided as she thought.

While Charlie dodges questions about her personal life, Taylor starts asking questions about her own.

Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And there’s one thing in her life she knows will never change: her friendship with Jamie—no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about the Queen Firestone SupaFan Contest, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe. (via Goodreads)

I received an eARC of Queens of Geek courtesy of the publisher, Swoon Reads, and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Queens of Geek was absolutely wonderful. Like, had me in tears of happiness in the empty office kind of wonderful. That is so rare that I can’t remember the last time it happened.

I also can’t remember the last time I identified with a character as much as I did with Taylor in this book. I think this is the first time I’ve ever read a character who felt so much like me, and I can’t even begin to explain what that meant. Taylor’s anxiety experience was so like my own, and it’s so rare for me to find that in fiction. Not to mention finding other women with autism, which the author is as well.

Anxiety isn’t an attack that explodes out of me; it’s not a volcano that lies dormant until it’s triggered by an earth-shattering event. It’s a constant companion.

BOY does that sound familiar. I kept picturing Queen Firestone as Pearl from Steven Universe, which I know isn’t accurate, but that’s what my brain gave me.

In an unrelated but funny note, two of my best friends from college are named Charlie and Taylor. They both cosplay, Charlie is bi, Taylor is also bi, plus sized and anxious as hell. I didn’t make the connection with the character names until after I finished the book and was recommending it…. to both of them.

We had a good giggle about that, and I’m still gonna make both of them read this book because they will love it.

Each of the characters in this novel felt intensely real to me, and for me, that’s the mark of a great novel. I hated Reece, I loved Alyssa and her forthrightness, and I adored Jamie (who also reminded me a lot of my partner.)

This book is all about girls helping girls, girls loving girls, and girls kicking ass. I honestly cannot recommend this enough if you like those things. You can preorder a copy, because it comes out in just a few days! Check out Amazon, Indiebound, or your other favorite bookseller! Queens of Geek is a five star read for me, hands down.